The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has discovered approximately 2,400 previously unrecognized documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The files were unearthed following a new record search prompted by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January, directing the declassification of all assassination-related records.
The FBI stated that the newly inventoried and digitized records were previously not identified as part of the Kennedy assassination case file. These documents have now been transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for inclusion in the ongoing declassification process. The agency did not specify the contents of the newly discovered files.
The discovery follows Trump’s executive order, which not only mandates the release of JFK assassination files but also includes documents concerning the assassinations of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both of whom were killed in 1968. Trump, who previously pledged to release all JFK-related documents during his first term, faced pushback from the CIA and FBI, leading to delays and selective disclosures. While the majority of JFK assassination records—totaling over five million—have been made public, an estimated 3,000 files remain partially or fully classified.
Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna, chair of the newly formed Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, has raised doubts about the Warren Commission’s conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Speaking at a Capitol Hill news conference, Luna questioned the integrity of the commission’s investigation, stating that the initial congressional hearing was “faulty in the single-bullet theory.” Based on her review of the evidence, she asserted that there were likely “two shooters” involved in the killing.
Representative Anna Paulina Luna also voiced concerns about the CIA’s awareness of Lee Harvey Oswald before Kennedy’s assassination, asking, “How much did the CIA know in advance?” She cautioned that withholding critical details from the public fosters speculation, noting that limited disclosures contribute to “conspiracy theories” that can ultimately be “detrimental.” Luna emphasized the importance of full transparency to prevent misinformation and restore public trust in official investigations.
Conspiracy theories regarding JFK’s assassination have persisted for decades, with some alleging that more than one shooter was involved or that the CIA and organized crime played roles in Kennedy’s death. The official government stance, backed by the findings of the Warren Commission, remains that Oswald acted alone before being fatally shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby two days after his arrest.
Harvard history professor Fredrik Logevall acknowledged that recently uncovered records might offer valuable historical insights but downplayed the likelihood of significant revelations. He suggested the documents are unlikely to “fundamentally overturn our understanding” of the Kennedy assassination or introduce anything “too dramatic” that would challenge the prevailing narrative of what happened in Dallas.
Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK,” echoed a similar sentiment, suggesting that any significant revelation would likely involve whether the CIA failed to share intelligence about Oswald with the FBI. “The question for me is not whether the CIA was complicit, but whether the CIA was negligent,” Posner said.
Trump’s latest executive order marks a renewed effort to fulfill his prior pledge to declassify assassination records. “Everything will be revealed,” he stated upon signing the order. However, his administration has not yet provided a timeline for when the newly discovered records will be made public.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of the late senator and current nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services under Trump, is among those who believe the CIA played a role in JFK’s death. The agency has dismissed such claims as baseless.
The FBI attributed the discovery of new records to improvements in its digital record-keeping system, citing a multi-year effort that began in 2020 with the opening of the Central Records Complex. As part of this initiative, the agency worked to “electronically inventory and store” closed case files from field offices nationwide. Officials explained that these advancements, along with a “more comprehensive records inventory,” have enhanced the bureau’s ability to “quickly search and locate records,” making previously inaccessible documents easier to retrieve.
While researchers and historians await further disclosures, the ongoing release of JFK-related documents continues to stir debates over one of America’s most controversial political assassinations. The extent to which the new files may reshape the historical narrative remains uncertain.